Initial results show massive support for pro-democracy candidates in Hong Kong election
Video report by ITV News Reporter Marc Mallett
Partial returns from Hong Kong's local elections show that pro-democracy candidates won nearly half of the seats.
The results look set to send a clear signal of support for anti-government protests that rocked the Chinese territory for more than five months.
After polls closed at 10:30 pm the Electoral Affairs Commission did not immediately provide the final turnout rate.
But at 9:30 pm, it said that 69% of the city's 4.1 million registered voters had cast ballots.
That sharply exceeded the 47% turnout in the same election four years ago.
The district council elections were carried out peacefully, with hardly any voters seen wearing protesters' trademark black or face masks.
David Alton, a member of the British House of Lords who is among a group of international observers, hailed the high turnout and said it shows that there is a great groundswell in Hong Kong who believes in democracy.
Christina Li said that it was important for older people like herself to support the youth, who are at the forefront of the protests.
"Younger generations might not be able to enjoy the rights that we are enjoying now", she said as she waited in line to go inside a polling station.
"We cannot take it for granted."
The race for 452 seats in the city's 18 district councils has taken on symbolic importance.
A strong showing by the opposition would show that the public still supports the pro-democracy movement, even as the protests have become increasingly violent.
The vote for the district councils, which advise the government on issues of local concern, are the only fully democratic elections in Hong Kong.
Members of the legislature are chosen partly by popular vote and partly by interest groups representing different sectors of society, and the city's leader is picked by a 1,200-member body that is dominated by supporters of the central government in Beijing.
The ruling camp in Hong Kong and the government in Beijing hope that the unrest and disruption to daily life will turn voters against the protesters.
Democracy activist Joshua Wong, who was barred from running in the election, voted soon after polls opened at 7:30am.
Results are expected after midnight.
"Even if they censor me out from the ballot, lock me out in prison, it will just encourage me to continue to fight for the future with even stronger determination," he told reporters.
City leader Carrie Lam said after voting that organizing the election was extremely challenging because of the unrest.
"But I'm pleased to say that ... we should have a relatively peaceful and calm environment to conduct these elections successfully," she said.
The district councils advocate for community interests and are given a small budget for local projects. Successful candidates will serve a four-year term beginning Jan. 1.
There has been a rare break in the violence in recent days as protesters, anxious to validate their cause through the ballot box, hit the pause button to ensure the polls won't be postponed.
Government officials had earlier warned that the election could be called off if the violence did not subside.
"We need to show the world that our cause is legitimate. I don't believe that Beijing will not respond to the Hong Kong people's voice," a black-clad and masked student Alex Wong said during a peaceful march Saturday.
Hong Kong Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said that a strong police presence at polling stations will ensure that the vote proceeds smoothly.
Online messages from protest support groups have advised people not to wear black or face masks during voting in case they are targeted by police.